Adaptive Pants (Or Trousers)

ABSTRACT

A set of pants having at least one front piece for covering at least a portion of a front region of an individual&#39;s body and a back piece for covering at least a portion of a back region of the individual&#39;s body, where the at least one front piece and the back piece are connected together along outseams and inseams extending along at least a portion of the individual&#39;s legs and wherein the back piece is formed from a single piece of fabric.

FIELD

This specification relates to pants or trousers (together referred to as pants hereafter), and in particular to pants that are adapted to minimize discomfort and pressure sores associated with sitting for prolonged periods of time.

BACKGROUND

The following background discussion is not an admission that anything discussed below is citable as prior art or common general knowledge. The documents listed below are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference to them.

Pants are typically formed from a number of different pieces of fabric that are connected along seams to form the final garment. The shape or cut of the pieces of fabric and the location of the seams are important aspects contributing to the overall fit and fashionable appearance of the garment.

A problem with conventional pants is that they are typically not adapted to be worn by individuals, such as wheelchair users, that spend most of their time seated over the course of the day. The location of seams, particularly at the portions of the garment that are in contact with a seat surface, may cause discomfort and pressure sores over a period of prolonged sitting which can have serious implications and potentially be life threatening. This is particularly problematic with bulkier fabrics such as denim but remains an issue for all types of fabrics.

Recently, there have been efforts to provide pants that are specifically adapted to wheelchair users. Such pants include adaptations such as the elimination of pockets and belt loops in the back. While such adaptations have alleviated some of the causes of discomfort and pressure sores there is still a need for further improvements. It is also desirable that the adaptations do not detract from the functionality of the pants as well as the ability to provide clothing having a fashionable appearance on a seated frame.

There is a need for improved pants that are adapted to address one or more of the above problems.

SUMMARY

In one aspect the invention provides a set of pants comprising: at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; and a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body, said back piece being formed from a single piece of fabric; wherein said at least one front piece and said back piece are connected along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body.

In another aspect, the invention provides a set of pants comprising: at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body; a waistband adapted to extend around an individual's waist; said at least one front piece and said back piece being connected to said waistband along a waist seam; said at least one front piece and said back piece being connected along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body; and wherein said back piece is formed from a single piece of fabric that extends from said waistband to at least the back of the knee.

In another aspect, the invention provides a set of pants comprising: at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; and a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body from their coccyx to the back of their knee, said back piece being formed from a single piece of fabric; wherein said at least one front piece and said back piece are connected along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body.

Other aspects and features of the teachings disclosed herein will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of the specific examples of the specification.

DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

FIG. 1(a) is a front view of a conventional set of pants (prior art);

FIG. 1(b) is a rear view of the pants shown in FIG. 1 (a);

FIG. 1 (c) is a left side view of the pants shown in FIG. 1 (a);

FIG. 1 (d) is a left side partial sectional view of the pants shown in FIG. 1 (a), along line d-d in FIG. 1(b);

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of pants in accordance with the present invention as shown being worn by an individual in a wheelchair;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pants shown in FIG. 2 in a seated position;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the pants shown in FIG. 2 in an upright or display position;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 11 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing a different dart configuration;

FIG. 13 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing a different dart configuration;

FIG. 15 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 16 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing a different dart configuration;

FIG. 17 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 18 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing the back piece extending for the full length of the leg;

FIG. 19 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 18 ;

FIG. 20 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing the pants with a short leg (shorts);

FIG. 21 is a front view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing a track pant style;

FIG. 22 is a rear view of the pants shown in FIG. 21 ;

FIG. 23 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 21 ;

FIG. 24 is a rear view of another embodiment of the pants shown in FIG. 4 , showing a separate fabric piece as an alternative to the dart;

FIG. 25 is a pattern view of the pieces of fabric for the pants shown in FIG. 24 .

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various apparatuses or methods will be described below to provide examples of the claimed invention. The claimed invention is not limited to apparatuses or methods having all of the features of any one apparatus or method described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. The claimed invention may reside in a combination or sub-combination of the apparatus elements or method steps described below. It is possible that an apparatus or method described below is not an example of the claimed invention. The applicant(s), inventor(s) and/or owner(s) reserve all rights in any invention disclosed in an apparatus or method described below that is not claimed in this document and do not abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

A conventional (prior art) set of pants is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1(a)-(d). Conventional pants 10 typically include a number of connected fabric pieces including a waistband 12, belt loops 14, left and right leg front pieces 16 a and 16 b (or a single front piece 16 in the case of pants with no fly), front pockets 18, a fly 20, a yoke 22, left and right leg back pieces 24 a and 24 b and rear pockets 26. The fabric pieces are connected along seams including a waist seam 28 that connects waistband 12 to yoke 22 and to front pieces 16 a, 16 b, a yoke seam 30 that connects yoke 22 to back pieces 24 a and 24 b, a back seam 32 that connects back pieces 24 a and 24 b together between the buttocks, an inseam 34 that connects front pieces 16 a, 16 b and back pieces 24 a, 24 b together between the legs, and an outseam 36 that connects front pieces 16 a, 16 b and back pieces 24 a, 24 b together along the outer side of the legs.

A set of pants in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 100 in FIGS. 2-25 . Pants 100 may be provided in various fabrics, styles, and lengths as described further below.

Referring to FIG. 2 , pants 100 are shown being worn by an individual 102 in a wheelchair 104. Pants 100 include a waist region W, a front region F, a back region B, a knee region K, an outer leg region OL, an inner leg region IL and a crotch region C that are adapted to at least partially cover corresponding parts of an individual's body. Pants 100 are preferably fitted pants that are fitted to specific sizes of individual and preferably are closely fitted to reduce the likelihood of folds being formed in the fabric particularly at back region B when an individual is seated.

Referring to FIG. 3 , back region B includes a portion that would typically be in contact with the surface of a seat such as the seat of wheelchair 104 (referred to hereafter as seat contacting portion). Seat contacting portion includes a lower back region LB, a seat (or buttocks) region S and a thigh region T. Lower back region LB extends from an individual's waist to their tail bone (or coccyx). Seat region S extends from an individual's tail bone (or coccyx) to their sit bones (or ischial tuberosity). Thigh region T extends from an individual's sit bones (or ischial tuberosity) to a knee region located at the back of their knees. Seat contacting portion is approximately the width of an individual's hips at lower back region LB and seat region S and then narrows to approximately the width of each thigh at thigh region T.

Referring to FIGS. 4-10 , pants 100 include a number of connected fabric pieces including a waistband 106, belt loops 108, left and right leg front pieces 110 a and 110 b (or a single front piece 110 in the case of pants with no fly), front pockets 112, a fly 114, and a back piece 116. The fabric pieces are connected along seams including a waist seam 118 that connects waistband 106 to front pieces 110 a, 110 b and to back piece 116, an inseam 120 that connects front pieces 110 a, 110 b to back piece 116 along inner leg region IL, and an outseam 122 that connects front pieces 110 a, 110 b to back piece 116 along outer leg region OL. FIG. 11 provides a view of a pattern for cutting the various fabric pieces.

Pants 100 may further include a crotch piece 124 at crotch region C that is connected along crotch piece seam 126 to front pieces 110 a, 110 b and to back piece 116. Crotch piece 124 may also extend along inner leg IL while being connected along crotch piece seam 126 to front pieces 110 a and 110 b and to back piece 116.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , back piece 116 comprises a single piece of fabric having a seat contacting portion that extends, as a minimum, through seat region S and thigh region T, and more preferably through lower back region LB, seat region S and thigh region T. Expressed another way, back piece 116 has a seat contacting portion that is seamless through seat region S and thigh region T, and most preferably through lower back region LB, seat region S and thigh region T. Expressed yet another way, as compared to conventional pants such as shown in FIGS. 1(a)-(d), back piece 116 has no back seam 32, and more preferably has no back seam 32 and no yoke seam 30 and most preferably has no back seam 32, no yoke seam 30 and no waist seam 28.

Back piece 116 may be connected to a calf piece 128 along a knee seam 130 preferably located at the back of a user's knee. Back piece 116 may alternatively extend along the full length of each leg (as shown in FIGS. 18 and 24 ).

Back piece 116 may be integrally formed with waistband 106 at back region B. In other words, back piece 116 may extend to a top 132 of waistband 106, and more preferably may have a fold 134 where back piece 116 is folded over top of waistband 106. An elastic 136 may be provided in waistband 106, preferably within fold 134, to provide a more comfortable fit. Preferably, back piece 116 comprises a single piece of fabric that extends from waistband 106 to at least the back of the knee at knee region K or alternatively along the full length of each leg.

Cutaway portions 138 (as shown for example in FIG. 11 ) may be defined between edges 140 in back piece 112 to form darts 142 that allow back piece 116 to be fitted to the curvature of an individual's back region B. Edges 140 may be connected along a dart seam 144 to form darts 120. Darts 142 are located outside (ie not located within) seat contacting portion. Darts 142 are at least located outside (ie not located within) seat region S, more preferably darts 142 are located outside (ie not located within) lower back region LB and seat region S or seat region S and thigh region T, and most preferably darts 142 are located outside (ie not located within) lower back region L, seat region S and thigh region T. Darts 142 may extend generally downwardly from waistband or generally inwardly from side seam (as shown in FIGS. 12-17 ).

Alternatively, cutaway portions 138 and darts 142 may be replaced with separate pieces of fabric 200 as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 . Pieces 200 allow pants 100 to be fitted to the curvature of an individual's back region B in a manner that simplifies sewing and reduces fabric consumption from the cutaway portion 138 and darts 142 described above. Pieces 200 are connected along seams 202 to back piece 116 and outseams 122 along outer leg region OL. Pieces 200 and seams 202 are located outside (ie not located within) seat contacting portion. Pieces 200 and seams 202 are at least located outside (ie not located within) seat region S, more preferably pieces 200 and seams 202 are located outside (ie not located within) lower back region LB and seat region S or seat region S and thigh region T, and most preferably pieces 200 and seams 202 are located outside (ie not located within) lower back region L, seat region S and thigh region T. Pieces 200 and seams 202 may extend generally downwardly from waistband.

Waistband 106 is sized to fit around an individual's waist. Preferably, waistband 106 is located higher on an individual's waist, at least at back region B, than conventional pants. Preferably, waistband 106 extends higher at back region B relative to front region F.

Waistband 106 may comprise a single piece of fabric or multiple pieces of fabric (including an elastic piece if desired). Preferably, waist band 106 comprises left and right front waistband pieces 150 a and 150 b (or a single front waistband piece 150 for pants without a fly) that connect to backpiece 116. More preferably, left and right front waistband pieces 150 a and 150 b (or a single front waistband piece 150 for pants without a fly) extend past outseam 122 and connect to backpiece 116 at the location of dart 142.

Left and right front waistband pieces 150 a, 150 b may include a clasp, button or other suitable connector 152 above fly 114 for releasably fastening pieces together. Fly 114 preferably comprises a zipper 154 with a loop (not shown) to allow for easier gripping to move up or down.

Stitching 160 is provided along seams and to finish exposed edges of fabric. Seams may be regular seams, flat seams or other desired types of seams.

Fabric may include denim, twill, stretch denim, stretch twill, fleece, jersey, ponte, wool suiting, stretch wool suiting, poly blends, cotton blends, or any other desired fabric that preferably has at least some stretch.

Styles many include jeans, chinos, track pants, leggings, undergarments, dress pants, casual pants, athletic pants, or any other desired style of pants.

Lengths may include full length, mid-calf, shorts, or any other desired length.

While the above description provides examples of one or more processes or apparatuses, it will be appreciated that other processes or apparatuses may be within the scope of the accompanying claims. 

1. A set of pants adapted to reduce the risk of pressure sores typically associated with prolonged periods of sitting, said set of pants comprising: a) at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; b) a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body, said back piece being formed from a single piece of fabric; and c) a crotch piece adapted to cover a crotch region of the individual's lower body; wherein said at least one front piece and said back piece are connected by stitching along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body, and wherein said crotch piece is connected by stitching along a crotch seam to said at least one front piece and to said back piece, said crotch piece having a curved portion that is adapted to be connected by stitching to a corresponding curved portion defined in said back piece.
 2. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back piece is adapted to extend to a knee region for each leg of the individual's lower body.
 3. A set of pants as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a calf piece disposed at a calf portion of the back region of the individual's lower body, wherein said back piece is connected by stitching to said calf piece along a knee seam disposed at said knee region.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back region includes a lower back region LB, a seat region S and a thigh region T.
 8. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back piece is seamless.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back piece has no back seam.
 12. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back piece has no back seam and no yoke seam.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pants are adapted to fit the curvature of the back region of the individual's lower body to reduce the likelihood of folds being formed at said back region when the individual is seated.
 16. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one dart formed in said back piece outside of a seat contacting portion.
 17. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a waist band adapted to extend around an individual's waist, said waist band being integrally formed with said back piece at said back region.
 18. A set of pants as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one separate piece of fabric connected by stitching to said back piece and at least one of said pair of outseams outside of a seat contacting portion. 19-59. (canceled)
 60. A set of pants comprising: a) at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; b) a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body, said back piece being formed from a single piece of fabric; c) a crotch piece adapted to cover a crotch region of the individual's lower body; and d) at least one cutaway portion defined between at least two edges of said back piece, said at least two edges being connected by stitching along a dart seam to define at least one dart adapted to fit the curvature of the back region of the individual's lower body; wherein said at least one front piece, said back piece, said crotch piece and said at least one dart are connected together by stitching along seams that are adapted to be located outside of a seat contacting portion of the individual's back region to reduce the risk of pressure sores typically associated with prolonged periods of sitting.
 61. A set of pants as claimed in claim 60, wherein said at least one front piece and said back piece are connected by stitching along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body.
 62. A set of pants as claimed in claim 60, wherein said crotch piece is connected by stitching along a crotch seam to said at least one front piece and to said back piece. 63-67. (canceled)
 68. Use of a set of pants by an individual to reduce the risk of pressure sores typically associated with prolonged periods of sitting, said set of pants comprising: a) at least one front piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a front region of an individual's lower body; b) a back piece adapted to cover at least a portion of a back region of the individual's lower body, said back piece being formed from a single piece of fabric; c) a crotch piece adapted to cover a crotch region of the individual's lower body; and d) at least one cutaway portion defined between at least two edges of said back piece, said at least two edges being connected by stitching along a dart seam to define at least one dart adapted to fit the curvature of the back region of the individual's lower body; wherein said at least one front piece, said back piece, said crotch piece and said at least one dart are connected together by stitching along seams that are adapted to be located outside of a seat contacting portion of the individual's back region to reduce the risk of pressure sores typically associated with prolonged periods of sitting.
 69. (canceled)
 70. The use as claimed in claim 68, wherein said at least one front piece and said back piece are connected by stitching along a pair of outseams, adapted to extend along an outer leg region for each leg of the individual's lower body, and a pair of inseams, adapted to extend along an inner leg portion for each leg of the individual's lower body. 71-78. (canceled)
 79. The use as claimed in claim 68, wherein said back piece is seamless. 80-84. (canceled)
 85. The use as claimed in claim 68, wherein said crotch piece has a curved portion that is adapted to be connected by stitching to a corresponding curved portion defined in said back piece.
 86. The use as claimed in claim 68, wherein said pants are adapted to fit the curvature of the back region of the individual's lower body to reduce the likelihood of folds being formed at said back region when the individual is seated.
 87. The use as claimed in claim 68, further comprising a waist band adapted to extend around an individual's waist, said waist band being integrally formed with said back piece at said back region. 